Winds, cold front move into Arizona

A low pressure system that literally blew into Arizona was still spinning above the state Tuesday morning, continuing a windy and cloudy trend that was expected to continue through the day.

CBS 5 Meteorologist Katie Baker said winds gusts reached 37 mph in Chandler in the southeast Valley and Goodyear to the west Tuesday morning and sustained winds from the west between 15 and 25 mph were expected to last the rest of the day. Baker said gusts as high as 40 mph could be expected in some parts of the Valley.

Visibility across the Valley, as well as other parts of the state, was hampered by lingering dust and some blowing sand and residents could expect that to continue through Tuesday, Baker said.

Some isolated showers and sprinkles were also expected Tuesday, Baker said. Mesa received 0.12 of an inch of rain Monday, and Scottsdale 0.11 of an inch.

The windy weather moved through the Valley Monday, causing dust to blow and a 34-mile stretch of Interstate 40 to close.

I-40, east of Flagstaff, was closed in both directions between Twin Arrows and Winslow due to strong winds and limited visibility, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said two semi-trucks jackknifed and two passenger vehicles were involved in the crash on Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak about 2 p.m. Monday.

Four people were taken to Tucson-area hospitals, but Department of Public Safety officials said they are all expected to be OK.

DPS said low visibility from a dust storm likely caused the accident.

There were multiple reports of wind damage across the Valley on Monday. The National Weather Service reported that a large tree fell and knocked down a brick wall near Riggs and Gilbert roads.

Power lines also snapped in half in the parking lot of a church at 18th Street and Missouri in Phoenix. APS workers are taking the power lines out of the trees.

Winds picked up to 50 mph in the Valley Monday afternoon.

A low pressure system started moving across California and Nevada on Monday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the Valley through 8 p.m. Phoenix was also under a red-flag warning because of those high winds and low humidity.

Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona Department of Public Safety recommend the following driving tips when encountering a low-visibility dust storm: Avoid driving into or through a dustMore >>

Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona Department of Public Safety recommend the following driving tips when encountering a low-visibility dust storm: Avoid driving into or through a dustMore >>